Happy and Knowledgeable - Science Volume

Author: Lei Jiangtao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Brain-teaser: Do plants have "love" and "roots"? Scientists have discovered that it's not just humans who understand love and hate—plants also have "love" and "hate" in nature. Scientific practice has proven: onions and carrots are "good friends," the scent they emit can drive away each other's pests; soybeans enjoy living with castor beans, the scent of castor beans makes the golden beetles that harm soybeans fearful; corn and peas grown together thrive, benefiting each other; planting violets in grapevines allows them to "coexist harmoniously," and the resulting grapes have a richer aroma.
Interestingly, British scientists mixed rhizome grass, which emits chemicals from its roots, stems, and leaves, with radishes. Within half a month, large radishes grew. Some plants, however, have "deep-rooted hatreds" and are "incompatible." Cabbage and mustard are "enemies," and when planted together, both suffer. Daffodils and lilies cannot be neighbors—they will "perish together" if grown together. Sweet clover living with wheat, corn, and sunflowers will cause these crops to yield nothing. Additionally, kale and celery, cucumber and tomato, buckwheat and corn, and sorghum and sesame are all "rivals."
The "love" and "hate" of plants, or their symbiotic and antagonistic relationships, are a biological discipline—biological community ecology. It studies the "love" and "hate" between plants and guides people in rationally planning greenery and optimizing crop layouts.
[Think About It] Are there any instances in your school's campus where trees and flowers have been forcibly planted together, violating their "wishes" (i.e., "love" and "hate")?
Do plants have "languages"? Animals "speak" in various ways—bird calls, insect chirps, dog barks, wolf howls, tiger roars, and lion roars are all "languages" of sound. Male and female giraffes rubbing their necks together show affection; albatrosses dancing in the air seem to express deep emotions—this is the "language" of behavior. Ants use scent to find their kind, which is the "language" of chemistry.
Plants are fundamentally different from animals, and people have long believed they lack a language. Interestingly, plant scientists have discovered that plants also have "languages" in experiments. Scientists developed a highly sensitive microphone to monitor plant behavior, which recorded sound vibrations emitted by plant roots and accurately documented them.
Interestingly, these vibrations have varying intensities and frequencies. What's going on? It turns out that when plants lack water or nutrients, their roots automatically emit a weak sound to signal the need for "drinking" or nutrient replenishment.
After learning these "languages," plant scientists can promptly implement sprinkler irrigation to provide sufficient water for thirsty plants and apply various chemical fertilizers in a timely and reasonable manner to ensure "well-nourished" plants. How meaningful is that!
[Think About It] What are the signs of plants lacking water or nutrients?
Do plants have "blood types"? Human blood types are divided into A, B, AB, and O. Animals also have blood types—this is no surprise, especially among mammals close to humans, but even in amphibians, birds, and mollusks.